Resilient tire.



C. DE LUKACS'EVICS.

RESILIENT TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED APII. II. 1913.

1,139,260. Patented May 11, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

1m: Nolmls nwsnsca.; wAsmIvsraN. s. c

c. DELUKACSEWCS.

RESILIENT TIRE. APPLICATION FILED APR. Il. 191s'.

Patented May 11, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

rr f I CHARLES DE LKACSEVICS, F WEST NUTLEY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TOWILLIAM H. DANE, OE EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

RESILIENT TIRE.

insegno.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1915.

Application iiled April 11, 1913. Serial No. 760,513.

T0 all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES Dn LUKAG- snvrcs, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at lVest Nutley, in the county of EsseX and State ofNew Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in ResilientTires, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in resilient tires and itproposes a. tire of that type which embodies a plurality of radiallyyieldable spring supported tread elements.

The objects of the invention aretoprovide a tire which shall have goodwearing properties in that the movements of the tread elements arewithout due friction; which shall have good riding properties in thatthe movements 'of the tread elements are eectively cushioned; whichshall not be liable to derangement in that no parts of delicate natureare employed; and in which the parts are readily accessible for thepurposes of cleaning, renewal, or repairs.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view showing a portion of a tire inwhich the features of the invention are incorporated, partly in sideelevation and partly in longitudinal section; Fig. 2 is a view partly inplan and partly in section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a crosssectional view showing one of the tread elements partly in end elevationand partly in cross-section; Fig. 4 is a view generally similar to Fig.2, showing more in detail the relation of the skeleton frame as well asa modied form of tread elements; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the skeletonframe for the tread elements for use in the form shown in Figs. 4 and 7.This frame, except for changes in the shape of the bars in which thetread elements are confined, is of the same construction as the framewhich is employed in theV forms shown in Figs. l and 2. Fig. 6 is a viewpartly in side elevation, and partly in central longitudinal section, ofthe frame shown in Fig. 5; Figs. 7 and 8 are plan and side elevations,respectively, of a base plate which forms a part of each tread element.In these figures the shape of the base plate is selected with referenceto the form of tread element used in the construction shown in Fig. 4,but its structure is generally the same as the base plate which forms apart of the tread element used in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and2.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

Generally described, the improved tire is made up of a plurality ofradially yieldable tread elements, a frame which confines the treadelements, and a spring support'which acts on the tread elements, and theinvention. consists in the structural character of these partsr and therelation which they bear to one another.

Each tread element consists of a rubber body 1 which is preferably solidandy a base 2, to which the body is joined. The base 2 is preferablyprovided with anchorage lugs 3 which may be star-shaped or cross-shaped,as shown, and which, when the body l is molded on said base, obviouslyvpermanently and securely anchor the body to the base.

The skeleton frame which confines the tread elements is shown at 4 andis preferably made in a relatively large number, e. g. ten, ofcounterpart conterminously arranged section, each section having acapacity for a certain number, e g., three or four, 0f tread elements.rIhus, Fig. 5 shows one of the counterpart sections of the frame 4.V Theframe 4 includes side bars 5 and cross bars 6, these bars deninginclosures 7 for the respective tread elements. The shape of the bars 6and consequently, of the inclosures 7, corresponds to the shape of thetread elements and these latter may be of any form desired. Thus, inFig. 2, the tread elements are V-shaped and in Fig. 4 they are lozengeshaped.

The support for the tread elements preferably comprises a continuousspring 8 which is, of course, annular, and may embody any desired numberof concentric leaves or laminee. The bases 2 rest upon the spring 8 andare preferably engaged therewith as by intermatching corrugations; thatis torsay, the bases 2 have their inner faces corrugated as at 9, andthe spring 8 has its outer face corrugated as at 10, the corrugationsmatching, as shown. 'Ihe oflice of the corrugations 10 is to prevent thespring from creeping with reference to the tread elements and to preventthe tread elements from canting in the direction of the plane of thewheel; and also to impart sufficient exibility to the spring, withoutimpairing its strength, whereby the spring will not be affected by thecontinuous deformationto which it is subj ect. Both leaves of the springare preferably corrugated as shown.

'Ihe side bars 5 of the frame 4 are preferably provided with inwardlyextending radially disposed lugs 11, which servethe three-fold purposeof supporting the frame in relation to the usual rim 12 and of providingfor an annular chamber 13 between the rim and the tread blocks, in whichchamber the spring 8 has its necessary play; of centering the spring 8in the plane of the wheel, z'. e. of preventing lateral movements ofsaid spring; and of providing` for the positive attachment of the frame4 upon the rim. F or this latter purpose, the lugs 11 are provided withthreaded holes to receive the screws or equivalent devices 19, by whichthe frame 4 is secured to the side flanges 14, whiclnin turn, form apart of, or are secured to the rim 12.

In order that the tread elements may be positively `guided in theirradial movements, the base plates 2 are provided with guides 15, andthese guides are preferably 'formed adjacent, and as parts of, theanchorage lugs 3. The guides 15 project slightly beyond the adjoiningsurfaces of the rubber bodies 1 and engage the side bars 5, and thecross bars 6 of the frame 4. The guides 15 may be of any desired form.Thus, in F ig. 2, someof the guides are flat and others are U-shaped,whereas in Fig. 4 all of the guidesare .U- shaped. When U-shaped guidesare employed, the bars of the frame 4 are provided with lugs orprojections 16 yfor engagement thereby.

In order to 'limit the outward displacement of the tread elements, theside bars 5 of the frame 4 are provided at their outer edges withinturned flanges 17, which overhang the guides 15 atthe sides of thetread elements, and are normally engaged by said guides. The rubberbodies 1 may be formed with shoulders 18,.'also to-engage the ianges 17,if so desired.

The spring 8 virtually forms a yielding bottom or base-wall for all ofthe inclosures 7 and holds the tread elements in normal relation, withtheir kguides 15 engaging against the flanges 17 of the bars 5. Owing tothe fact that the tread elements meetthe ground and leave the ground atan angle, there is a tendency for said tread elements to cant in theplane of the wheel, and this canting action promotes friction and unduewear and detracts from the easy riding properties of the tire. In theconstruction disclosed, this canting action is counteracte'd,

.partly by the length and arrangement of the guides 15, and the surfaceswhich they engage, and partly, and to the greater extent, by therelation which obtains between the bases 2 and the spring 8, wherebythese elements are provided with intermatching corrugations which holdthe tread elements at all times in definite relation to the spring andprevent the spring from creeping as a consequence of its continuousdeformation. In other words, the tread blocks move in a true radialdirection, without any end-wise thrust, and the thrust arising from thedeformation of the spring is uniformly transmitted to and resisted bythose tread blocks which are not in engagement with the ground.

Having fully described my invention, I claim:

1. In a resilient tire, tread elements, each comprising a base and arubber body joined thereto, a frame having inclosures for the treadelements, and an annular spring forining a base wall common to saidinclosures and upon which the tread elements rest, the bases havingcorrugated faces and the spring having corrugations, the tread elementshaving corrugated inner faces and the spring having corrugations tomatch the corrugated inner faces of the tread elements.

2. In a resilient tire, tread elements, each comprising a base and arubber body secured thereto, the base having a plurality of guides whichproject slightly beyond the rubber body, a frame having inclosures forthe tread elements, the walls of the inclosures being `engaged 'by saidguides, and a corrugated annular spring support for the tread elements,the bases having corrugations to match and engage the corrugations ofthe spring support.

3. In a resilient tire, tread elements, each comprising a base and arubber body molded thereon, the base having anchorage lugs incorporatedinthe body and having guides adjoining and formed with the lugs andwhich project slightly beyond the rubber body, a frame having inclosuresfor the tread elements, the walls of the inclosures being engaged bysaid guides, and a spring support for the tread elements.

4. In a resilient tire, tread elements, a frame having side barsdefining inclosures for the tread elements and having lugs projectingradially and inwardly from its side bars, a felly upon which said lugsengage, an annular spring supporting the tread elements and arrangedbetween the lugs and also between `the tread elements and the felly, thetread elements having projecting my hand in presence of two subscribingWitgilidls, the slide bars (having inturnedbange nesses. W 1e over angan are engage y sai guides, and annular side flanges secured to CHARLESDE LUKACSEVICS said elly and overlying and also secured to Witnesses:said lugs. WILLIAM A. KISTLER,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set PHILIP C. SCHUYLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

